The Afrobarometer is a state-of-the-art research survey that measures the social, political and economic atmosphere in Africa. Afrobarometer surveys are conducted in more than a dozen countries. Because there are a standard set of questions, countries can be systematically compared and, ultimately, trends in public attitudes can be tracked over time.

      Selected time-series data have been collected in: Zambia (1993, 1996, 1999), South Africa (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000), Ghana (1997, 1999).

TOPICS. Each survey collects data about individual attitudes and behavior, including innovative indicators specially relevant to developing societies.

      * Democracy. Popular understanding of, support for, and satisfaction with democracy, as well as any desire to return to, or experiment with, authoritarian alternatives;

      * Governance. The demand for, and satisfaction with, effective, accountable and clean government; judgments of overall governance performance;

      * Livelihoods. How do African families survive? What variety of formal and informal means do they use to gain access to food, shelter, water, health, employment and money?

      * Macro-economics and Markets. Citizen understandings of market principles and market reforms and their assessments of economic conditions and government performance at economic management;

      * Social Capital. Whom do people trust? To what extent do they rely on informal networks and associations?

      * Crime. How safe do people feel? What has been their experience with crime and its control?

      * Participation. To what extent do people join in development efforts, comply with the laws of the land, vote in elections, contact elected representatives, engage in protest, and consider migration.

      * National Identity. How do people see themselves in relation to ethnic and class identities? Does a shared sense of national identity exist?

NETWORK. The Afrobarometer is an international collaborative enterprise of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), the Center for Democracy and Development, (CDD-Ghana), and Michigan State University (MSU). In addition, the Afrobarometer Network includes national partners -- independent research institutes in the university, NGO, and private sectors -- that execute surveys in each African country. Through networking and applied training, the partners aim at mutual capacity-building.

FUNDING. Afrobarometer research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Swedish International Development Agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Danish Governance Trust Fund administered by the World Bank.

RESULTS. The results of Afrobarometer surveys are fed directly into the policy process, usually through NGOs. We seek to reach diverse audiences: decision-makers in government, policy advocates, donor agencies, journalists and researchers, as well as voting-age adults in Africa who wish to become informed and active citizens.

PUBLICATIONS. Recent Afrobarometer publications include: